The word "Carer" - We want your feedback!

Hi all!

As you know, over this year we have been thinking about the future of the SANE Forums, we have sought out your feedback a few different times – so thank you so much for always being up for being involved in the direction of the service you use and the community you belong to. One of the things we keep hearing out in the world is the limits of the word ‘carer’. It’s been a very important term to bring understanding to the incredible work family, friends and loved ones do supporting people with complex mental health issues. But it also has its limits.

For example, the Carer Forum is for any person who cares about someone experiencing complex mental health issues – it could be a friend, boyfriend/girlfriend/partner, spouse, colleague, any direct or extended family members (including sons/daughters/children, parents, aunties and uncles, grandparents, cousins etc etc etc) – really anyone who has a question or needs support to do with their role as someone who cares about/supports someone with mental health issues.

It’s estimated that for every person experiencing a complex mental health issue there are 5 people around them supporting them in some way. But we’re not reaching them and we wonder if they would think that the ‘Carer Forum’ is for them. We’d love to hear from both people with their own lived experience as well as family, friends and carers:

1. How comfortable are you with the term carer?

2. Do you think calling the forum here 'Carer Forum' comes with challenges?

3. What other term do you identify or connect with? Why?

4. What do you think about the term ‘Family & Friends’ or “Family, Friends & Carer’ (including the name Family & Friends Forum)?

Thanks so much awesome community 🙂 For further musings we also have a really interesting article around this here.